Response surface methodology for standardisation of lignocellulosic biomass saccharification efficiency of NSF-2 fungus isolate.

ABSTRACT

Lignocellulosic biomass can be used as a low cost substrate for cellulase production. In the present study an attempt was made to optimize physicochemical condition standardization for simultaneous cellulase production by NSF-2 fungal isolate, using wheat straw as a substrate and enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat straw by cellulase produced in-vitro by NSF-2 fungal isolate. Experiments showed maximum saccharification after 5th day of incubation. Optimum pH and temperature for saccharification were 5 and 30 degrees C respectively. Further optimization was carried out by response surface methodology using Box-Behnken design (BBD). BBD was designed with different combinations of three variables (peptone as nitrogen source, lignocellulosic biomass as substrate and Tween--80 as surfactant, each at three levels 1 g l(-1), 2 g l(-1), 3 g l(-1), 0.5 g l(-1), 2.5 g l(-1), 5 g l(-1) and (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%) respectively. The model computed for R2 value (99.55%) indicated that this was appropriate and could be useful in predicting the effect of the studied variables. Experimental results showed maximum saccharification at the middle concentration of peptone and substrate, i.e., 2 g l(-1) and 2.5 g l(-1) respectively. Surfactant did not show much significant result.